Navigation

The Hours - The IndieLondon interview

Interview by Jack Foley

product

HAVING broken through with singles such as Ali In The Jungle and debut album Narcissus Road, The Hours return on April 20 with sophomore album See The Light. Ahead of that is the single Big Black Hole, released on April 6.

As they prepare for its release, the boys took time out of their busy schedule to chat to IndieLondon about the new material, life after Narcissus Road and which songs make up their current playlist.

Q. Looking forward to the new album very much… what can we expect from it?A: A big, ballsy, pumping, anthemic cinematic journey!

Q. How long did it take to write the songs?A: We are always writing songs – some are from around the last album, some are from right before we finished this one.

Q. Can you pick out your own personal favourites?A: Come On, These Days, Car Crash and See The Light [a former IndieLondon single of the week, no less!]

Q. Following the critical acclaim surrounding Narcissus Road, do you feel any extra pressure? How is confronting the “difficult second album” syndrome?A: For us, a record is exactly that… a record of the period of time that you wrote those songs in. Getting hung up on trying to succeed on other people’s terms is pointless. We make music for ourselves and if we love it, and it speaks to us, there’s a chance it might connect to others.

Q. What’s your favourite touring memory?A: I had a brilliant kebab late one night in Hull!

Q. How did you get Sienna Miller involved in the video for recent single See The Light?A: We knew she liked our band so we just asked her and she said “yes”!

Q. How is it collaborating with an artist of Damien Hirst’s stature?A: Brilliant, Damien is a geezer, a great artist and he believes in everything he does. We believe in everything we do, so it’s a natural collaboration.

Q. What are your touring plans for the rest of the year? Will you be having a busy festival schedule?A: We will be everywhere! You won’t be able to avoid us even if you want to [laughs].

Q. What music inspires you? If you had to put together an infinite playlist of, say 10 great tracks for IndieLondon readers, what would be on it?
Can You Feel It – Mr Fingers
Talk Talk – Life Is What You Make It
Bryan Eno – Music For Airports
Ruphus and Chaka Kahn – I Feel For You
Clash – Train In Vain
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Geno
Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Pump It UpMGMT – Time To Pretend
Glen Campbell – Witchita Line Man
Kraftwerk – Man Machine